Formal registration of companies has many immediate benefits for the companies and for business owners and employees. Legal entities can outlive their founders. Resources are pooled as several shareholders join forces to start a company. Formally registered companies have access to services and institutions from courts to banks as well as to new markets. And their employees can benefit from protections provided by the law. An additional benefit comes with limited liability companies. These limit the financial liability of company owners to their investments, so personal assets of the owners are not put at risk. Where governments make registration easy, more entrepreneurs start businesses in the formal sector, creating more good jobs and generating more revenue for the government.
Below is a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Mexico. It examines the procedures, time and cost involved in launching a commercial or industrial firm with up to 50 employees and start-up capital of 10 times the economy's per-capita gross national income.
This information was collected from World Bank: Doing Business
| No. | Procedure | Time to Complete | Associated Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain the authorization of using the company name online and file the draft deed of incorporation with the notary online | 1 day | no charge |
| 2 | Sign the deed of incorporation before a notary public, obtain Tax Registry Number (RFC) and file online the deed of incorporation with the Public Register of Commerce | 2-3 days | MXN 10500 (notary fees)+ MXN 1520 (registration fees) |
| 3 | Register with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) | 2-5 days | no charge |
| 4 | Register with the local tax administration (SecretarÃa de Finanzas del Gobierno del Distrito Federal) for payroll tax | 1 day | no charge |
| 5 | Notify the local government (Delegación) online of the opening of a mercantile establishment. | 1 day | no charge |
| 6 | Register with the National Business Information Registry (Sistema de Information Empresarial, SIEM) | 1 day | The costs can vary from MXN $100 to MXN $670 |